SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TRIAL OPENING OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001946 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TRIAL OPENING OF A9 HIGHWAY FOR HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO JAFFNA Classified By: CDA James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (U) The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) announced November 20 it would open for a "trial run" the Muhamalai check-point on the A9 highway linking the Jaffna peninsula to the south of the island through the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni. The A9 highway has remained closed since military engagement between the LTTE and GSL forces began August 11. On behalf of the Secretariat for the Coordination of the Peace Process (SCOPP),Development and Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogallagama called a meeting for Co-chair missions and international agencies. SCOPP Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona also attended, along with representatives from the U.S., EU, Norway, Japan, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),the United Nations (UN) and the Nordic-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). Bogallagama read a statement by President Rajapaksa (full text para 5) and answered logistical questions. ¶2. (U) Because the monsoon has complicated the GSL's supply by sea of relief materials to the Jaffna peninsula and due to the dire humanitarian situation there, the GSL will pursue a "one-time" convoy of relief supplies through LTTE-controlled territory via the A9, Bogallagama explained. He requested the assistance of international agencies in providing vehicles and banners for an approximately 100-truck convoy which would meet at the Omanthai checkpoint -- the last check point before entering the LTTE-controlled Vanni -- to proceed via the A9 to Jaffna. Peace Secretariat Chief Kohona clarified that the convoy would be a "trial run" for opening the land route for humanitarian aid, and did not rule out the possibility of further missions. Both GSL officials noted that the logistics of the convoy would take some time to hammer out. Bogallagama emphasized that only the Muhamalai checkpoint between the Vanni and the government-controlled Jaffna peninsula had been closed since August 2006, whereas the entire land route through the Vanni had been closed from 1996 until the 2001 ceasefire. (Note: The LTTE has repeatedly claimed that the closure of the Muhamalai checkpoint represents a violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.) ¶3. (U) LTTE spokesman Daya Master told the press that the Tigers "reject" the GSL plan to send a convoy of essential goods to Jaffna via the A9, demanding that the road be opened permanently. LTTE-proxy Tamil National Alliance (TNA) member of parliament G.G. Ponnambalam told pol FSN November 20 that the GSL had not informed the LTTE about the convoy prior to releasing the public statement and that the GSL's announcement had been planned to coincide with the November 21 Co-chair's meeting in Washington. He said that the A9 must be kept open under the terms of the 2001 Ceasefire Agreement and reiterated LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan's contention in Geneva October 28-29 that "keeping the A9 open is not a question of sending aid but a means of civilian and trade access." ¶4. (C) Comment: The GSL's announcement to temporarily open the A9 is clearly timed to coincide with the Co-chairs meet to discuss humanitarian issues in Washington, at which humanitarian issues and human rights will be discussed. It is a responsible move, however, and represents the GSL's attempt to be flexible in response to international pressure. The opening of the A9, however temporary, will be a public relations victory for the GSL. While the intention is good, there are significant logistical details to be ironed out and the LTTE's "rejection" of the proposal could well be a complicating factor. End Comment. ¶5. (U) Full text of the GSL statement: SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO JAFFNA PENINSULA THROUGH A9 H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has today, directed relevant government authorities spearheaded by the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) to make immediate arrangements to transport a large consignment of essential supplies to the Jaffna peninsula by road, using the A9 highway. The Muhamalsai entry/exit checkpoint will be re-opened to facilitate this transport, as a one time measure. The President took this decision on humanitarian grounds, having considered representations made by religious COLOMBO 00001946 002 OF 003 leaders and the community and having reviewed the situation, in particular, in the context of inclement weather which is likely to continue for some weeks. The decision was also made in order to ensure that a satisfactory buffer stock of food and other essential items is maintained under the supervision of the government agent/district secretary in Jaffna. The government will request independent organizations to facilitate the movement of the convoy of supplies through the checkpoints at Omanthai and Muhamalai. All relevant parties will be requested to ensure safe passage of these lorries carrying humanitarian supplies. The lorries will be sealed after goods are loaded and the seals will be opened once they reach Jaffna in the presence of representatives from religious and civilian organizations and government authorities. The government will continue to supply essential goods to the peninsula, by using the sea route as it has done for the past three months, despite attacks by the LTTE on ships carrying supplies and passengers and threats by the LTTE to private traders in the peninsula to prevent the distribution of supplies to the people. The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) was compelled to temporarily close the A9 highway, entry/exit checkpoint at Muhamalai situated at the isthmus of the Jaffna peninsula on 11 August 2006. The closure was necessitated due to the massive artillery and mortar attack launched by the LTTE on the government forces on the day which destroyed the infrastructure build by the GOSL at Muhamalai to facilitate the movement of people and goods. The LTTE has continued with almost daily attacks since then causing death and injury. The GOSL is unable to open the checkpoint on a regular basis until the area is safe for the movement of civilians and supplies and until it can be assured that national security will not be compromised. The humanitarian considerations in relation to the people in the Jaffna peninsula have been of paramount concern to the government since it was forced to temporarily close the entry exit checkpoint at Muhamalai. In this context the government has taken a number of initiatives since 11 August 2006 to address humanitarian concerns of the Jaffna peninsula. The government has taken full responsibility to supply the needs of the people and has used the sea route to ensure that adequate supplies of food and other essential items are sent and that the people are also able to move to other parts of the country. Since 11 August 2006, 30,859 metric tons of supplies have been moved to Jaffna using the sea route. The task of the government has been made onerous by the refusal of the LTTE to guarantee the safety of supply and passenger vessels. On the request of the GOSL, both the ICRC and the WFP have offered to ferry these supplies if the LTTE were to assure their safety. The LTTE continues to refuse to provide this basic humanitarian assurance, instead, insisting that Muhamalai be reopened. In the past LTTE suicide boats have attacked and sunk supply ships and have attacked passenger vessels. On 9 November a passenger vessel was attacked by suicide boats. The LTTE has threatened private traders, preventing them from distributing goods brought in by the government and thereby preventing the distribution of goods in the peninsula. The GOSL in yet another effort to overcome this impasse and alleviate the hardships of the Jaffna people has offered an alternative to opening Muhamalai and has expressed its willingness to open the ferry link from Pooneryn to Jaffna purely for the movement of people, (this route is not viable to move supplies). The GOSL has stated that students will not be allowed to use this alternative route, to ensure that young persons in Jaffna will not be forcibly inducted for military training by the LTTE, as is the norm. The LTTE has rejected this proposal. The jetty, although damaged in 2001 before the CFA, has been used by ferries plying from Pooneryn. The A9 highway was closed from 1995 to 2002. At that time, COLOMBO 00001946 003 OF 003 two entry/exit points that regulated movement into the uncleared areas of the Wanni were established. One was the gateway to the government controlled Jaffna peninsula at Muhamalai in the north and the other at Omanthai 98 km away, was the entry point into Wanni from the south. Contrary to the misconception propagated by the LTTE, the only part of the highway that is temporarily closed since 11 August 2006 is the entry/exit checkpoint at Muhamalai. The Omanthai checkpoint has remained open and facilitates the movement of goods and people to and from the LTTE dominated areas to the south. BLAKE